Melanoma Detection and Treatment
The best cure is prevention. The best outcome happens when cancer is detected and treated early. Highlander’s team is setting a new standard for detection and management of malignant melanoma.
Melanoma is the third most common skin cancer with over a million people estimated to be living with this cancer today. Approximately one person dies every hour in our country from this skin cancer. Melanoma rates in the United States have doubled from 1988 to 2019, and worldwide, the number of melanoma diagnoses are expected to increase by more than 50% by 2040.
AI Assisted Melanoma Detection
ADDING FOTOFINDER TECHNOLOGY HAS SHOWN TO HELP IDENTIFY MELANOMA AND ATYPICAL MOLES EARLIER.
As with most cancer’s, early detection is key. Especially with melanoma. Studies have shown Total Body Mole Mapping with Digital Dermoscopy identifies melanoma earlier than examination alone.
TREATMENT AND FOLLOW UP
The majority of melanomas can be treated with excision. Treatment recommendations are based on the latest NCCN (National Comprehensive Cancer Network) and AAD guidelines.
Melanoma facts and questions
Can melanoma be cured?
When detected in its earliest stages, melanoma is highly treatable. The average five-year survival rate for individuals whose melanoma is detected and treated before it spreads to the lymph nodes is 99%.
Early detection is essential. We recommend regular self-examinations of the skin to detect changes in its appearance. Changing, suspicious or unusual moles or blemishes should be examined as soon as possible.
Melanoma can start as a new spot or within an existing mole
Approximately 71% of melanomas develop within an existing mole, perhaps one you’ve had for years. 29% present as a new spot.
ATBM Total Body Mole Mapping aids in detecting subtle changes in existing moles with routine scans. Typically once a year is recommended. Your provider at Highlander will review if you‘re a candidate for this advanced surveillance.
Baseline cancer screening
All the providers at Highlander offer and perform cancer screenings with full body examination. A baseline ‘skin-check’ is necessary to make individual recommendations as to how often a person needs a skin exam. This is based on individual risk factors, including skin type, history of sun exposure, and family history.
Melanoma Risk Factors
Melanoma affects all skin types and ages. Excessive sun exposure and tanning bed use (even if when you were younger) increases your risk for skin cancer.
Using tanning beds before age 20 can increase your chances of developing melanoma by 47%, and the risk increases with each use.
Experiencing five or more blistering sunburns between ages 15 and 20 increases one's melanoma risk by 80 percent.
Your risk is also increased if you:
- Have more than 50 moles, large moles or atypical (unusual) moles.
- Have had a previous melanoma or nonmelanoma skin cancer, which is more common than melanoma.
- Have a family history of melanoma.
- Have sun-sensitive skin (i.e., you sunburn easily; have red or blonde hair; or have blue or green eyes).
- Have a history of excessive sun exposure or indoor tanning.
- Have had other previous cancers, such as breast or colorectal.
Know the most common areas affected
Unfortunately, melanoma can happen almost anywhere on the body. This is one reason we are strong proponents of full-body skin exams since skin cancer doesn’t only target the areas that have been exposed to the sun.
If you notice a new mole, a mole different from others on your skin, or one that changes, itches or bleeds, have it evaluated as soon as you are able.
What melanoma looks like?
A - Asymmetry
D- Diameter and E - Evolution
B - Border Irregularity
If the mole is asymmetric, meaning one half does not look like the other half.
B - Border Irregularity
D- Diameter and E - Evolution
B - Border Irregularity
Does it have an uneven border? Most benign moles have a border that is fairly even and defined all the way around. If the border of your mole is uneven, especially if it looks notched around the edges, it may be time to have it looked into.
C - Color Variation
D- Diameter and E - Evolution
D- Diameter and E - Evolution
Multiple shades of tan, brown or black within a mole as well as loss of color is a sign that a mole could be changing into cancer.
Normal moles typically are one color and resemble the color of your other moles. An outlier mole that is very dark, unlike your other moles, needs evaluation.
D- Diameter and E - Evolution
D- Diameter and E - Evolution
D- Diameter and E - Evolution
Most melanomas are larger than 6mm (size of a pencil head eraser). More importantly is if there is a change in your mole.